Archive for the 'Constantine Maroulis' Category

Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen to Co-Host this Season’s American Idol Extra

Here’s some news. American Idol Extra, from the FOX Reality Channel, will premier on Thursday, March 17 at 10 PM ET/PT. The past 2 seasons, Matthew Rogers (S3, 11th place) and Mikalah Gordon (S4, 11th place) were co-hosts.

TPTB have decided to mix things up a bit:

This year the show will get even more up-close and personal, and host JD Roberto will have the first full interview with the departing contestants of American Idol directly from the studios.

Roberto, who returns to host American Idol Extra for the second time, is joined by two new co-hosts, Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen, who have experienced American Idol firsthand. Constantine was a finalist during the fourth season of American Idol and Gina made it to the final 12 during last year’s Idol season.

Congrats to Gina for scoring a post-idol gig. And, I’m counting on Constantine to bring the CHEESE. You know he will.

Related Posts

Bo Bice and Lakisha Jones on AI Extra - VIDEO
American Idols Tour: Chicago, IL - Gina Glocksen Engaged!
Constantine the Greek
American Idol Extra - David Hernandez - Melinda Doolittle
David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and the Rest of the Top 8 on AI Extra

Dreyers Ice Cream Idol Album Cover

The cover of the album Dreyer’s will be giving away during their American Idol ice cream promotion has leaked.

Hey, where’s Melinda Doolittle?

What do you think of the choice of featured Idols?

Thanks Ina…

Related Posts

Dreyer’s Promotional Idol CD in the Works?
Chris Richardson and Melinda Doolittle to Host Dreyer’s Ice Cream Promotional Parties
Idol Update
Idol Appearances for the Week 4/14/08-4/20/08
Blake Lewis CD Release Date Pushed Back

Season 7 Audition Update - Philadelphia PA

The last of the “cattle call” Season 7 auditions took place in Philadelphia, PA this week.  According to American Idol producer Patrick Lynn, there was a “monster turnout.” at Wachovia Stadium. “Three times the size it had been anywhere else,”  Lynn says. Philadelphia is not only the last audition city, but also the only tourstop in the Northeast. All in all, 20,000 people turned out to audition, the largest turnout in Idol history according to Idol publicists.

Anthony Fedorov worked the crowds at the audition for the local FOX affiliate.  Also on hand were Kimberly Caldwell for TV Guide and Constantine Maroulis. According to Kimberly, tryouts in front of the producers are taking place at a secret location Wednesday and Thursday. Auditions in front of Randy, Paula and Simon will take place Saturday and Sunday.

Producer Lynn says, “Philadelphia is the turnaround city, so you’re lucky to be getting all the judging done in one week. In the other cities, we’ve just done the first round preliminaries and so we’ll be revisiting those towns after Philly.” The judges rounds with Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, will continue through the second week of October.

Related Posts

Season 7 Audition Update
American Idol Premiers in Philadelphia on Tues and Dallas on Wed
Idol Rumored Top 50: Philadelphia and Dallas Update (Spoilers)
Historical Charts
Weekly Billboard Updates 2007

Billboard Update - 09/01/07

Here’s this week’s and last week’s Idols Billboard Chart for you all. 

Highlights:

  • Constantine Maroulis debuted on the Billboard Chart at #75 last week, and then dropped to #198 this week.  Unless his musical appearance on the big Bold and the Beautiful Boldface Challenge has some effect on sales this week.  So far, he’s sold 12,973 units so far.
  • Daughtry’s new single “Over You” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 last week at #94.  It moves up to #75 this week, and is #39 on the Pop 100 and #25 on the Pop 100 Airplay.
  • This week, Kimberley Locke debuts a new song on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.  “Band of Gold” enters the chart at #22.
  • Taylor Hicks’ “Heaven Knows” reaches its highest chart position on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart this week at #19.
  • Fantasia has a new single, “Only One U” and it debuted on the Hot Adult R&B Tracks and Airplay chat last week at #76 and #75 respectively.  It debuted on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay at #35.  This week it moves up the charts at #58, #58 and #30.
  • Carrie Underwood’s new single “So Small” from her upcoming album debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 this week at #98.  She moves from #17 to #15 on the Hot Country Songs chart.  She also debuts this week on the Canadian Hot 100 at #14.
  • “Forever Cool” the latest CD in the celebrity-duets-with-a-dead-guy genre–that would be Dean Martin–debuts at #39 on the Billboard 200 this week.  Paris Bennett “duets” with Dean on one cut, “Baby-O” and you can listen to it here.  She sounds fantastic, but I can’t get passed the whole singing-with-a-dead-guy thing…

I spent today updating my Idol Appearances page.  If you know of an Idol appearance and would like to add it, email me at mjsbigblog@gmail.com. Thanks.

Related Posts

Weekly Billboard Updates 2007
Historical Charts
Billboard Update 1/20/07
Billboard Update 1/13/07
Billboard Update for Issue 1/26/08

This Week’s Season 7 Auditions

Ryan and BrandonUnfortunately, little things get in the way of my blogging.  Like my job, for instance. Just a little thing. Ha.  Between travelling this week, and catching up at work, I am behind on my blogging, as usual. Good thing, the blog continues on without me, as LisaB and Kirsten keep you guys and informed and massively entertained every day with Idol news and chart and sales news (respectively). Thanks guys!

While I was away, Idol auditions took place in Atlanta, GA this week.  My blogger buddy Rodney Ho from the Atlanda-Journal Constitution was on hand at the Georgia Dome to blog the excitement–from registration, to the auditions, to first-person audition accounts. Ryan Seacrest was there as was Constantine Maroulis who was appearing on behalf of Garnier hair products (?!!?)

Fifteen-thousand hopefuls waited in line for their chance to audition for the first-line producers and hopefully move on to the producer and judges rounds.  Rodney interviewed repeat auditioners, and Season 6’s Brandon Rogers and Kimberly Caldwell covered the event for TV Guide.

Auditions begin today in Charlston, SC. By Thursday morning,  4,000 had arrived to wait in line.  By this morning, the number grew to 9,000.  The next city on the schedule is Miami, FL, Wednesday, August 22.

Related Posts

Season 7 Auditions: San Diego, CA
And So It Begins….Season Six Scoop!
Season 7 Schedule
American Idol Season 7 Begins Tonight!

Constantine Maroulis Debut CD drops

Yikes!Constantine Maroulis just released his debut album this week. You can listen to it right here at AOL. It’s been 2 years since Constantine competed on Idol. As many of you remember, he was eliminated–shockingly! shockingly! at sixth place during Season 4. Ah yes, I remember it well. Paula’s meltdown, Con’s crying mother, Con’s fans wailing and gnashing their teeth. Good times. He went on to tour with his fellow Idols that summer. Afterward, Constantine seemed to have it going on–a development deal for a TV show with ABC based loosely on his life, lots of press–and there were hints from Constantine’s camp that a major label deal was imminent..

Unfortunately, as it often happens in show business, the TV show fell through, and there was no major label record deal. But, there was work for Constantine. If Hollywood would not have him, New York City would. He headed to Broadway where he snagged a supporting role in The Wedding Singer and followed that up with a starring role in a revival of Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris. Then, as fate would have it, Hollywood came knocking for reals, and Con was offered a role to play a character kinda-sorta based on himself in the cheestastic soap opera, The Bold and The Beautiful.

In the meantime, Constantine started his own record company, Sixth Place Records, with a plan to release a record independently. His debut CD, fittingly called “Constantine” is a mixed bag, but, what I like about the record, is that it captures perfectly the cheeky theatricality Con displayed so cannily on American Idol. Try not to chuckle at some of the unintentionally funny lyrics here (the shout out to Nico, Yoko and then himself had me rolling…) and concentrate on the music. He’s assembled a top-rate band (check out the lead guitar work) and his vocals are excellent. The sound is a throw back to 70’s-80’s rock with a little Latin, a little glam rock, and a little pop and hard rock thrown into the mix. Me likey. The CD is being distributed by Sony Red, the same company that distributes Elliott Yamin’s fine debut..

Ok. My chatter buddies have been begging me for months to tell my Constantine story on the blog. Yes, I have one. So, to celebrate the release of his debut album, IT’S STORY TIME.

More after the jump!

Continue reading ‘Constantine Maroulis Debut CD drops’

Related Posts

Constantine the Greek
Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen to Co-Host this Season’s American Idol Extra
Update
Idol Headlines for 08/12/07

EW Rates the Idols and other ramblings

Things have been very quiet in American Idol land.  The contestants are on tour, but as Ken Barnes from the USA Today Idol Chatter blog has noted, the buzz on this years contestants has been nearly non-existent.

Last year at this time, you blog peeps were chattering about Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPheeChris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler–all had announced record deals with Sony/BMG by this time last summer. 

Between Katharine McPhee’s admission she was an active bulimic prior to her Idol audition, and her 3 week absence from the beginning of the tour due to throat problems–this blog at least–was never at a loss for subjects to discuss.

And of course, there was the Unofficial Taylor Hicks Travelling Shadow tour, featuring his old band Little Memphis Blues Orchestra and any of the other Idols who wanted to join in on the fun… It took place in clubs in key cities after the Pop Tarts cheese-fest wrapped up for the night.

This year, so far, no signings have been announced.  All the Idols have shown up for the tour, and outside of reports of Blake Lewis being mean to old ladies, (not this one though, heh) this year’s gang is gossip-free.

Not longing for the good old days exactly, but I would like SOMETHING to happen.  News about Jordin and Blake’s contracts with 19 would be nice for starters…

In the meantime, here are some interesting articles from Entertainment Weekly.  About former Idols, of course.

EW rates the Idols and muses on their post-Idol careers.  Also, I have a little news about Bo Bice. Good stuff.  After the jump…

Continue reading ‘EW Rates the Idols and other ramblings’

Related Posts

I got nothin’…
American Idol TV Spots Still Commanding a Hefty Price
American Idols Tour: Anaheim, CA
American Idols Tour: North Little Rock AR

Season 6 Contestant Update Pt. 1

The Season 6 Top 10 begin the big Pop Tart tour in Fort Lauderdale, FL on July 6.  At this very moment, they are in Los Angeles rehearsing for the tour.  Here’s an update on how they’ve been keeping busy in the weeks since the finale.  Part 1 starts with the Top 5 (after the jump).

Jordin Sparks - Jordin did the typical Idol media rounds after the finale, but since then, all has been quiet on the Jordin front, including any news about her record deal.  Last season, Taylor Hicks’ signing with J Records was announced within a week of the finale, before the end of May.  Rumor has it her parents are managing her, but that is, strictly a rumor at this point. She performed at the Walmart shareholders meeting on June 1.  She recently sang the National Anthem before Game 2 of the NBA finals.  She, Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle will be featured in NBC’s 4th of July special airing on the evening of the 4th.  There are rumors that she’ll perform the National Anthem when the Super Bowl heads to Arizona in January 08.  Want to know more about Jordin and her family? Here’s an illuminating article from the conservative christian website Worldnet.

Blake Lewis - No news of record signings for Blake either (Katharine McPhee’s deal was announced on June 7 last year).  However, in this radio interview with KISS 106 in Seattle, Blake says that he will be managed by Simon Fuller and the peeps at 19 Management.  Blake also did the typical media rounds.  His most recent TV appearance was The View.  (Jordin Sparks appeared on the same day in an earlier segment).  He also took a little R&R in Las Vegas, where he unfortunately caught the attention the gossip columnists.  Blake has been chosen by People magazine as one of the Hottest Bachelors 2007.  The issue is on newsstands now.  Of course, for all things Blake, check out Team Plaid.

Melinda Doolittle -  Since leaving the competition in third place, Melinda sang the National Anthem for Game 5 of the NBA playoffs and did a press tour in NYC that included seeing Fantasia in “The Color Purple” with Jordin Sparks.  Whether she’s picked up by 19R/M remains to be seen.

Lakisha Jones -  Lakisha finally got her homecoming after the Idol finale wrapped up at the end of May.  She was celebrated in both Houston, Texas where she lived for 6 years and her hometown in Michigan.  You can read all about it at Mlive.com’s Idol Chatter Blog.  Some of the festivities included an official Lakisha Jones Day in the State of Michigan on June 11, a performance at the State Capitol in Lansing, a rally in Flint, Michigan and a homecoming performance at the church she attended in Houston.

Chris Richardson - Did you know that although Chris and Phil Stacey were eliminated together during what was technically the Top 5, Chris was the contestant who officially came in 5th, while Phil came in 6th.  That’s according to this interview with Larry King.  Besides hanging out (and annoying little old ladies, presumably) in Las Vegas with Blake Lewis, Chris was also seen recently at the Elliott Yamin concert at the Roxy in LA along with Blake Lewis, Ace Young and Constantine Maroulis.  He appeared with Ace, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, Kevin Covais, Sabrina Sloan, Kimberly Caldwell and Will Makar at Summerfest 2007 on June 2 in Brea, CA. Check out his performances on You Tube here, here and with the entire Idol gang  here.

Part 2 coming soon!

Related Posts

Historical Charts
Weekly Billboard Updates 2007
Billboard Update for Issue 01/12/08
Season Five Encores Chart Watch
Katharine McPhee Watch Pt 2

More Idols Dropping Albums Soon

I’m pulling this out front from another post where I had it buried after a jump.  Just in case y’all didn’t see it. 

Season 5’s Ace Young has been signed to S Curve Records.  His CD is set to drop in September with a single released in July.  The album is being executive produced by Desmond Child, with songs written by Diane Warren (who has written for many Idols including Taylor Hicks and Carrie Underwood) and Andreas Carlson.  Ace says he is writing or co-writing all the tunes on the album.  All Top 9 Idols from Season 5 have signed record/distribution deals at this point.  Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington have all released CDs.  Mandisa’s album is due out later this year.

Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis from Season 4 are both working on new albums.

Bo Bice is recording the album with country producer Frank Liddell, and features Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman,  legendary session guitarist Waddy Wachtel and bluegrass icon David Grisman. It features songs co-written with A.J. Croce (son of Jim Croce) and Chris Tompkins (Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”). Bo wrote 31 songs for the album and is narrowing down the list to 10-12.Rumor has it that Bo has left RCA. It looks like Bo has gone back to his Southern rock roots with a vengeance and is doing his own thing. 

Bo recently cancelled 3 shows in order to make a mid-September release date.  “In order to make the now scheduled mid-September release date for his forthcoming CD, BO BICE will immediately return to the studio to complete recording.”–from a press release.

Unfortunately, Bo cut his Tuesday night Anaheim, CA show short due to illness.  I hope it’s something innocuous and not a flare-up of the intestinal troubles he’s battled the last few years.

Constantine Maroulis’s album “Constantine” will drop August 7th on his own label with distribution from Sony/Red (distributors of Elliott Yamin’s CD). The album features songs co-written with Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas, and Nashville songwriter Angie Aparo. Two songs, “Everybody Loves” and “A Girl Like You” are being featured on “The Bold and The Beautiful.” Constantine currently has a recurring role on the CBS daytime soap.

Related Posts

Chart News from Billboard Magazine
Taylor Hicks Preview at Gray Charles
Billboard Update for Issue 10/27/07
Idol Move

Billboard Update 06/02/07

Here is your Idol Billboard Update. Better late than never.

The Highlights:

  • Elliott Yamin’s appearance on the Top 3 Results show to sing his single “Wait For You” paid off in a big way.  His album Elliott Yamin climbed from #67 to #20 on the Billboard 200.  It also climbed back to the #1 spot on the Independent Albums Chart, from #49 to #20 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, and re-entered the Top Digital Albums chart at #14. The single, “Wait For You” climbed from #80 to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100, entered the Hot 100 Airplay at #72, climbed from #45 to #23 on the Pop 100 and from #28 to #24 on the Pop 100 Airplay.  The single also entered the Hot Digital Tracks and Hot Digital Songs charts at #19 and #26 respectively.
  • As Clive announced on the American Idol Finale, Carrie Underwood’s album “Some Hearts” has gone 6x platinum.  The album has shipped 6 million units.  Good for Carrie.  The album charts at #8 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top Country Albums chart.
  • Daughtry’s single “Home” continues to climb the charts, from #13 to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #26 to #21 on the Hot 100 Airplay, #11 to #7 on the Pop 100,  #12 to #9 on the Pop 100 Airplay,  #7 to #4 on the Hot Adult Top 40, #10 to #4 on the Hot Digital Songs, and #7 to #3 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart. Daughtry’s appearance on the finale could bump the single into the #1 position on key charts next week.
  • Reba McEntire’s duet with Kelly Clarkson “Because of You” enters the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart at #42.  Her single “Never Again” is stalling on the charts.  Her appearance on the Idol finale should give her a bump next week.
  • Fantasia, who is currently winning rave reviews on Broadway in the “The Color Purple” also has a single out that’s currently climbing the charts.  “When I See You” has climbed from #71 to #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, from #46 to #36 on the Hot 100 Airplay, from #14 to #8 on the Hot R&B Hip Hop Singles and Tracks chart and from #14 to #8 on the Hot R&B Hip Hop Airplay chart.
  • Maroon 5’s “This Love,” sung by Blake Lewis on Top 3 night, has re-entered the Hot Digital Tracks and Hot Digital Songs charts, both at #41.  Maroon 5’s album “Songs About Jane” re-enters the Top Pop Catalog chart at #5.

More numbers from Idol Chatter

Check after the jump for Idol Record News! Continue reading ‘Billboard Update 06/02/07′

Related Posts

Weekly Billboard Updates 2007
Historical Charts
Billboard Update 06/02/07
Billboard Update 1/20/07
Billboard Update 1/13/07

Idol Bits and Pieces

Ken and Nigel pull out of Emmy Telecast

Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe will not be producing this year’s Emmy telecast as previously announced. 

Here’s the official statement, “After we wrapped the enormous effort of ‘Idol Gives Back,’ we looked at our upcoming slate of projects, including the ‘American Idol’ finale and the additional shows we will be involved in this summer, and realized that we could not devote the creative energy and time necessary to make the Emmys outstanding for the academy and Fox,”

Ken Ehrlich, who produced the Emmy’s last year is returning to produce his 4th Emmy telecast.   Says the Academy of Television Arts and Science’s CEO Dick Askin, “He [Ehrlich] did a terrific job with the Emmys last year, and we are glad to have him back.”

Diana DeGarmo’s Stalker Sentenced

An Australian woman who hacked into Diana DeGarmo’s My Space and sent her threatening emails and phone calls has been sentenced.

 Tanya Maree Quattrocchi, 21, of Oak Park, was released on a community-based order and ordered to serve 150 hours of community service after she was convicted of stalking and blackmail.  The court heard the defendant had a limited intellectual ability and had scored an ENTER score of just 16 when she graduated from Ave Maria College in Aberfeldie.

 She’s in college, and she’s hacking into MySpace accounts, but she has “limited intellectual ability?”  What?  If this had been tried in the States, I think the courts would have been a lot tougher.

Constantine Maroulis and Tamyra Gray Begin New Acting Roles

Constantine’s run on the CBS soap “The Bold and The Beautiful” begins on Tuesday May 15 and will run for several months.  He’ll play music producer, Constantine Parros, who becomes involved in the life and career of heiress Phoebe Forrester.  OMG, this should be hilarious.  I’m DVRing the first few episodes.  If I find anything snarkworthy, I’ll post it. Heh.

Tamyra Gray begins a stint with the Broadway musical “Rent.”  She’ll play the role of Mimi Marquez through November 25.

New Dates for the American Idols Live Tour

The American Idols Live Tour starts in Sunrise FL on July 6th.  If everything goes as planned, I’ll be at the Tampa FL show on the 7th.  YAY.  Check out the dates.  If your city wasn’t on the list, it may be now.  New dates are being added as we speak.

Simon Fuller discusses Idol Songwriter Contest

In a recent interview American Idol producer, Simon Fuller, talks about the American Idol Songwriter contest.  Fuller screened the entries and says the entries include, “a handful of world-class songs.”  That remains to be seen.  I plan to check out the songs soon.  Really, I do. 

About this season, Fuller comments, “This has been an intriguing year. It’s been a slow burn in terms of getting to know the talent … It’s more of a journey than ever this year.”  Fuller thinks that two or three ”terrific” contestants have emerged out of the contest.  He would not say who.

Related Posts

Idol Bits and Pieces
Idol Bits and Pieces - Theme for the Top 10 - Songs the Year They Were Born
Idol Bits and Pieces
Bits and Pieces
Idol Bits and Pieces


May 2008
S M T W T F S
« Apr    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031